If anyone ever puts together a highlight reel of Lake County Sheriff's Capt. Ronald Walters' career, there will be enough good material for a full-length documentary.

He's worked on cases ranging from the Kirtland cult killings in 1993 to the 2003 incident in which a young boy received a severe electrical shock while waiting in line to go on a ride at the Lake County Fair in Painesville Township. The boy later died.

At other points in Walters' 25 years with the sheriff's office, he's investigated and helped bring about convictions of suspects charged with everything from arson to aggravated murder.

Walters also has probed hundreds of burglary, theft and fraud cases, incidents that don't always make headlines but take a tremendous toll on their victims.

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On Wednesday night, Walters was honored for his stellar career when he received the Jorge Medina Distinguished Service Award at the Lake County Blue Coats' 47th annual banquet. The event was held at Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites LaMalfa in Mentor.

Prior to Walters, 100 Lake County police officers and firefighters have been awarded the Jorge Medina Distinguished Service Award.

Lake County Sheriff Daniel A. Dunlap nominated Walters for the award.

In his nomination letter, Dunlap acknowledged that many of those receiving the Jorge Medina Distinguished Service Award are recognized for a particular heroic act.

But Dunlap cited Walters' body of work in law enforcement as the driving force behind the nomination.

"This year, I would like to nominate Capt. Ronald Walters, whose career deserves such recognition for his continued acts of personal sacrifice and heroism to the citizens of Lake County over the past 25 years," Dunlap wrote.

Dunlap recalled working alongside then-Deputy Walters in 1993 as he dug through trenches of mud inside a Kirtland barn where three young children and two adults were murdered by cult leader Jeffrey Lundgren and his followers.

"His work was critical in the prosecution of Jeff Lundgren and his followers for a mass killing that has long marked the history of Lake County," Dunlap stated.

Dunlap read that same nomination letter at Wednesday's banquet, as Walters stood by his side. Walters didn't address the audience during the presentation.

In addition to the Blue Coats award, Walters received $500 from the group as well as proclamations from state Rep. John Rogers and Lake County commissioners.